Perfections; in himself was all his state, Thus faid. Native of Heav'n, for other place Whom thus th' angelic Virtue anfwer'd mild. 375 As may not oft invite, though Spi'rits of Heaven, Stood Stood to' entertain her gueft from Heav'n; no veil Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail 385 Long after to bleft Mary, fecond Eve. 390 Hail Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy fons, Than with these various fruits the trees of God Have heap'd this table. Rais'd of grassy turf Their table was, and moffy feats had round, And on her ample square from fide to fide All autumn pil'd, though spring and autumn here Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; No fear left dinner cool; when thus began Our author. Heav'nly ftranger, please to taste These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom All perfect good, unmeafur'd out, descends, To us for food and for delight hath caus'd The earth to yield; unfavory food perhaps To spiritual natures; only this I know, That one celeftial Father gives to all. To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives 400 (Whose praise be ever fung) to Man in part Spiritual, may of pureft Spi'rits be found 405 No' ingrateful food and food alike those pure Intelligential fubstances require, As doth your rational; and both contain Within them every lower faculty 410 Of fenfe, whereby they hear, fee, fmell, touch, taste, Tafting concoct, digeft, affimilate, And And corporeal to incorporeal turn. For know, whatever was created, needs To be fuftain'd and fed; of elements 415 The groffer feeds the purer, earth the sea, Earth and the sea feed air, the air thofe fires Ethercal, and as lowest first the moon ; Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd 420 Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale In humid exhalations, and at even 425 Sups with the ocean. Though in Heav'n the trees Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn 430 Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, The Angel, nor in mift, the common glofs 435 Of Theologians; but with keen difpatch Of real hunger, and concoctive heat To tranfubftantiate: what redounds, transpires Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire Of footy coal th' empiric alchemist 440 Can turn, or holds it poffible to turn, Metals of drofficft ore to perfect gold As As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve 445 Deferving Paradife! if ever, then, Then had the fons of God excufe to' have been Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy Was understood, the injur'd lover's Hell. 450 Thus when with meats and drinks they had fuffic'd, Giv'n him by this great conference to know Inhabitant with God, now know I well As that more willingly thou couldst not feem 455 460 465 At Heav'n's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare? To whom the winged Hierarch reply'd. O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom 470 475 Indued with various forms, various degrees To intellectual; give both life and sense, 485 490 Wonder not then, what God for you faw good If I refuse not, but convert, as you, To proper. fubftance: time may come, when Men With Angels may participate, and find No inconvenient di'et, nor too light fare; 495 And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 500 Whofe |